Updated: 6 November 2026
Every year, lakhs of students in Maharashtra face the same big question — where will the money for fees come from? College tuition, hostel charges, books and examination fees together become a heavy burden for many families. The good news is that the Maharashtra government has created a single place for all of this, where one registration lets you choose the right scholarship for your category and course.
In this article, we explain that path in simple language — what this portal is, where and how to apply this year, which scholarship is meant for whom, which documents you should keep ready in advance, and most importantly, the truth about the last date, around which a lot of confusion has spread. Read till the end, because we have also listed the mistakes that get thousands of applications rejected every year.
MahaDBT Scholarship 2026-27: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | MahaDBT Scholarship (Aaple Sarkar DBT), Academic Year 2026-27 |
| Offered by | Government of Maharashtra — schemes of 12 departments on one portal |
| Total schemes | Around 68 scholarships (54 college-level + 14 school-level, as reported) |
| Mode of application | Fully online, only on the MahaDBT 2.0 portal |
| New official portal | mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in |
| Old portal | mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in (now only for 2025-26 applications) |
| Who can apply | Domicile students of Maharashtra, from Class 5 to PhD |
| How the money is paid | Directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT |
| Helpline | 022-49150800 / Toll-free 1800 120 8040 |
| Last date | Different for every scheme; no single official last date has been clearly announced yet — read the full truth below |
MahaDBT Scholarship 2026-27 Last Date: What Is the Truth?
Different websites give different answers to this question, and that is the biggest source of confusion. Some websites mention 30 September 2026, some say 31 December 2026, and some write dates going up to March 2027. So here we state clearly what is verified and what is not.
First, the most important point — on the official MahaDBT portal, no single last date for all 2026-27 schemes has been clearly announced yet. Every department and every scheme has its own timeline, and that date is shown on your scheme page after you log in. So do not treat any one website’s date as the final truth.
| Reported date | Source that reported it | Our note |
|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2026 | Careers360 (SC/ST scholarship), Buddy4Study (EBC scheme) | This date has already passed; some scheme windows appear closed while others may have been extended — check the live status of your scheme on the portal |
| 31 December 2026 | ScholarDost (post-matric SC/OBC pages) | A reported date, not confirmed by an official notification |
| 31 March 2027 | Another scholarship website | A very late date, not confirmed by any official source |
| No verified date | Desk4Info check (November 2026) | No 2026-27 deadline was found in the official information reviewed — this is the most honest position |
Our advice is simple — do not leave your application to the last date. Applications for 2026-27 are reported to be open on the MahaDBT 2.0 portal, and according to some sources they started between June and August 2026. Visit the portal today, select your scheme and see its live last date yourself. If your scheme shows a date that has passed, call the helpline 1800 120 8040 and ask whether the date has been extended or you should wait for the next phase.
What Is MahaDBT and What Changed in 2026-27?
MahaDBT stands for Maharashtra Direct Benefit Transfer, also called “Aaple Sarkar DBT”. It is the Maharashtra government’s single online portal where students apply for scholarships and student welfare schemes run by different state departments. Earlier every department had a separate process; now one profile lets you apply for several schemes.
The biggest change for 2026-27 is that all fresh and renewal applications are now accepted only through the new MahaDBT 2.0 portal (mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in). The official portal clearly states that the MahaDBT 1.0 portal is now active only for fresh applications of Academic Year 2025-26. So if you are applying for 2026-27, you must go to the new portal. Trying to fill the 2026-27 form on the old portal will not be accepted.
Another new facility is granular application tracking on the portal — you can now see the live status of your application at every stage. A citizen charter has also been issued, giving the expected timeline for each stage. Students whose applications for 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26 were marked “Sent Back” have also been given a re-apply facility on the old portal.
Major Scholarships on MahaDBT (2026-27)
MahaDBT hosts around 68 schemes under 12 departments — the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Tribal Development Department, Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Technical Education, Medical Education Department, Minority Development Department, VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, School Education Department and Skill Development Department are the main ones. Below are the biggest schemes, which receive the most applications.
| Scholarship / Scheme | For Whom | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship (SC) | SC / Neo-Buddhist students, Class 11 to PG | Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance, reported as Rs 230 to Rs 1,200 per month |
| Post-Matric Scholarship (ST) | ST students, Class 11 and above | Tuition fee + examination fee + maintenance allowance |
| Post-Matric Tuition Fee and Examination Fee (OBC Freeship) | OBC students, post-matric courses | 100% fees in government/aided colleges; 50% tuition + exam fees in private unaided colleges |
| Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulkh Shishyavrutti (EBC) | Economically Backward Class (EBC) students, professional courses | Reimbursement of tuition and examination fees |
| 100% Fee Waiver for Girls (Professional Courses) | Girls of OBC, EWS and SEBC categories, professional UG courses | 100% tuition + exam fees as per the GR dated 8 July 2024 |
| Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Merit Scholarship | SC students with 75% or more in Class 10, admitted to Class 11 | Rs 300 per month for 10 months — Rs 3,000 per year (in both Class 11 and Class 12) |
| Savitribai Phule Pre-Matric Scholarship | SC girls, Class 5 to 10 | Pre-matric maintenance allowance (amount as per the scheme GR) |
| Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh Nirvah Bhatta | Hostellers (separate versions under DHE, DTE and MAFSU) | Hostel maintenance allowance |
| ITI Stipend (Craftsman Training Scheme) | Trainees in government ITIs | Reported as Rs 500 per month |
| Minority Scholarships | Students of minority communities | Tuition fee assistance as per Minority Development Department schemes |
Some of the amounts above are verified from official scheme pages (such as the 50%/100% rules of the OBC freeship and the Rs 3,000 merit scholarship), while others are based on reports from reputed scholarship websites. Before treating any amount as final, read your scheme page on the portal, because amounts can change with each year’s government resolution (GR).
Who Can Apply? Eligibility
Every scheme has its own conditions, but some common conditions apply to almost all of them. The first condition is that the applicant must be a domicile of Maharashtra. The second is that the student must be studying in a government, government-aided or recognised institution. Third, pre-matric schemes are for school students, while post-matric schemes are for students of Class 11 and above.
Category-wise eligibility looks like this:
- SC students: Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship for SC / Neo-Buddhist students, Class 11 to PG; the family income limit is commonly reported as Rs 2.5 lakh per year — confirm on the portal.
- ST students: Schemes of the Tribal Development Department; Maharashtra domicile and admission in a recognised course are required.
- OBC / VJNT / SBC students: A caste certificate of the relevant category is required; for the OBC freeship, admission through the CAP round is compulsory for professional courses.
- EBC (open category) students: For the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj fee scholarship, the family income limit is commonly reported as Rs 8 lakh per year — confirm on the portal.
- Girls (professional courses): Girls of OBC, EWS and SEBC categories get a 100% fee waiver, with family income below Rs 8 lakh (as reported).
- ITI students: Students undergoing training under the Craftsman Training Scheme in government ITIs.
- Minority students: Schemes of the Minority Development Department for notified communities.
Also keep in mind some special rules written on the official OBC freeship page: if a student fails in a professional course, the fees for that year are not paid until the student is promoted to the next class. Freeship is given for only one course at a time, and not for more than two professional courses. Changing courses midway can also end eligibility, so ask your college before changing a course.
MahaDBT Scholarship 2026-27: How to Apply? Step-by-Step
The whole process is online. Follow the steps below in order:
- Open the new portal: Go to mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in. Remember, this is the correct portal for 2026-27, not the old one.
- Click “New Applicant Registration”: If you are applying for the first time, register as a new applicant. If you applied last year, log in with the same username and password for renewal.
- Verify with Aadhaar: Enter your Aadhaar number and verify it with the OTP sent to your mobile. The mobile number linked to Aadhaar must be active. A non-UID registration option using email and mobile is also reported to be available.
- Create a username and password: After registration, write down your username and password in a safe place — this is your login ID for every year.
- Complete your profile: Log in and fill your personal, address and academic details — name, date of birth, domicile, caste, income, last examination and current course details.
- Choose your scheme under “All Schemes”: Eligible schemes will be shown as per your profile. Pick the scheme that matches your category and course — choosing the wrong scheme can get your application rejected.
- Fill the form and upload documents: Enter the required details and upload clearly scanned documents. Blurred photos or wrong files are the most common reason for rejection.
- Submit and save your Application ID: After submitting the form, note down the application ID you receive — you will need it for status checks and every enquiry.
- Get institute verification done: After submission, your college or institute must verify the application. Without institute verification the application does not move forward, so stay in touch with your college office.
- Keep checking the status: Use the granular tracking on the portal to see the status of your application at every stage. If the application shows “Sent Back”, complete the correction asked for quickly.
Aadhaar Seeding and Bank Account: The Most Important Condition
MahaDBT money comes through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) straight into your bank account, so your bank account must be linked with Aadhaar (Aadhaar seeded) and NPCI mapping must be active on it. If the account is not linked with Aadhaar, the money can get stuck even if the scholarship is approved.
Before applying, visit your bank branch and ask whether NPCI/DBT mapping is active on your account. The account must be in your own name — the money will not come into a parent’s account. Also, the name in Aadhaar and the name in the bank account must match; even a small difference in the name can stop the payment.
Documents Required
Keep these documents ready before you start the application, so that you do not have to rush at the last moment:
- Aadhaar Card (linked with your mobile number)
- Maharashtra Domicile Certificate
- Caste Certificate (if applicable, issued by the competent authority)
- Caste Validity Certificate (for professional courses, wherever asked)
- Income Certificate / Non-Creamy Layer Certificate
- SSC / HSC marksheet or the marksheet of your last examination
- Leaving Certificate (TC)
- Fee Receipt (from your college)
- CAP Allotment Letter (for professional courses)
- Gap Certificate (if there is a gap in your studies)
- Declaration of parents/guardians about the number of children availing benefits
- Bank passbook (in your own name, linked with Aadhaar)
- Passport-size photograph
- Ration card (for the number of children in the family, wherever asked)
Make clean scanned copies of all documents. The spelling of your name, date of birth and category must be the same in every document.
What Is the Difference Between Fresh and Renewal Applications?
If you are applying for this scheme for the first time, it is a fresh application. If you received the same scholarship last year and are now in the next year of the same course, you must fill a renewal — not a new fresh form. Renewal needs the previous year’s marksheet, the new year or semester details and a fresh fee receipt. Filling a fresh form by mistake when you should have renewed can stall your application, so choose the correct option for your situation.
How to Check Application Status?
Log in to the MahaDBT 2.0 portal with your application ID and go to the “My Applied Schemes” or application tracking section. There you will see whether your application is with the institute, with the district office, approved, or paid. If the status stays stuck at one place for a long time, first ask your college office, then contact the helpline.
Common Reasons Applications Get Rejected — Avoid These
- Filling the 2026-27 form on the wrong portal (the old MahaDBT 1.0)
- No Aadhaar seeding / NPCI mapping on the bank account
- Choosing the wrong scheme — one that does not match your category or course
- Expired or incorrect income or caste certificate
- Uploading blurred or wrong documents
- Filling a fresh form instead of renewal (or the other way round)
- Not getting institute verification done — submitting the form and forgetting about it
- Name or date of birth differing across documents
Important Official Links
| Purpose | Official Link |
|---|---|
| MahaDBT 2.0 portal (2026-27 applications) | mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in |
| MahaDBT old portal (2025-26) | mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in |
| Central scholarships (NSP) | scholarships.gov.in |
| Helpline | 022-49150800 / Toll-free 1800 120 8040 |
Related Information
If you are also looking at scholarships outside Maharashtra, you can read our guides on NSP Scholarship 2026-27, SVMCM Scholarship 2026-27, ONGC Merit Scholarship 2026-27 and Odisha Post Matric Scholarship 2026-27.
MahaDBT Scholarship 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the last date for MahaDBT Scholarship 2026-27?
No single official last date for 2026-27 has been clearly announced yet. Every scheme has its own separate date. Some sources report 30 September 2026 and some report 31 December 2026 — but these dates are not confirmed by an official notification. Check the live date of your scheme by logging in to the MahaDBT 2.0 portal, and do not leave your application for the last day.
2. On which portal should I apply for 2026-27?
Only on the MahaDBT 2.0 portal (mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in). As per the official notice, fresh and renewal applications for 2026-27 are accepted only through this portal. The old MahaDBT 1.0 portal is now only for 2025-26 applications.
3. Which documents are needed for MahaDBT?
Aadhaar Card, Maharashtra Domicile Certificate, Caste Certificate, Income Certificate, SSC/HSC marksheet, Leaving Certificate, fee receipt, CAP Allotment Letter (for professional courses) and a bank account in your own name linked with Aadhaar. A Caste Validity Certificate may also be asked for professional courses.
4. Is Aadhaar seeding compulsory for MahaDBT?
Yes, it is very important. The money is paid through DBT straight into the Aadhaar-linked bank account, so NPCI mapping must be active on the account. Without Aadhaar seeding, even an approved scholarship payment can get stuck.
5. Can I apply for multiple scholarships with one profile?
Yes, once your profile is created, you can apply for several schemes as per your eligibility. But only one freeship or scholarship benefit is given for the same course at the same time, and choosing the wrong scheme can get your application rejected.
6. Why is college verification necessary after applying?
After you submit the form, your institute must verify the application — to confirm your course, admission and fees. Without institute verification the application does not move forward. So after filling the form, do contact your college office.
7. When will the MahaDBT money be received?
There is no single fixed date for payment. After the application, institute verification, district office scrutiny and approval, the money comes through DBT into your account. Keep checking your status on the portal — this usually takes from a few weeks to a few months.
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared by a private information portal, not a government website, for general information only. Eligibility, amounts and last dates for scholarships can change from time to time, so before applying, please check the latest information about your scheme on the official portal mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in.
